O
tjljc iUeckln (Enterprise.
OFFICIAL PAPKH FO CLACKAMAS COUNTV.
OragoD City, Oregon,
Priday : :
March 22, 1872.
Democrats Talte Notice.
The Democratic Convention will meet
at the Court House at 10 o'clock, a. m., to
morrow, by order of the
County Committee.
The Convention To-Morrow.
To-morrow the Democracy of
Clackamas county will assemble in
Convention by their chosen Dele
gates for the purpose of placing in
nomination a county ticket, and
selecting seven delegates to the
State Convention. So far as we
have been able to learn, the utmost
good feeling existed throughout
the county at the primaries last
Saturday, and the delegates who
have been selected, were chosen
fairly and without the usual efforts
on the part of aspirants, Xo trick
ery or "button-holing" was resort
ed to," and the delegates are un.
trammeled with pledges or personal
preferancos, thus leaving them per
fectly free to select a ticket which
xvill meet with the hearty endorse
ment of the party throughout the
countv. We hope the same degree
of good feeling will continue to ex-
1st at the county v-onveniion
which has characterized the pri
maries, and that the wishes of the
majority may be readily acquiesced
in. On the result of the labors of
the Convention will depend the
success of our county ticket, and it,
therefore, becomes that body to act
with judicious care in selecting the
standard-bearers for the campaign.
Good and true men should be se
lected for every position, men who
arc qualified for the positions to
which they are called to fill, and
who will discharge the duties of
their office with credit to them
selves and the party. We have
the fullest confidence in the judg
ment of the delegates who have
been selected, and have no misgiv
ings as to the result of their actions.
We have a good opportunity offer
ed to carrv this countv, and there
can be no doubt as to the result on
the 3d of June if a good ticket is
nominated. Let the delegates can
vass the matter thoroughly and
pick out the very best men. Dis
card all personal favoritism or per
sonal animosities for the important
crisis, and all join hands for the
benefit of our party. The past ad
ministrations of the Radical party
o of the affairs of this county are
enough to disgust the voters, and
many who have heretofore acted
with them will fall into our ranks
if we have a ticket worthy their
support. Let us have such a ticket,
and all will be well. Success is
within our reach. Let it not be
thrown away. . The delegates have
have an important trust to perform,
and it is their duty to do it without
fear or partiality. This we have
full faith they will do, and that
the ticket which will be nominated
will receive the hearty support of
every Democrat. The delegates
have been fairly selected, and they
have a right to demand of the par
ty a hearty acquiescence in their
labors, and when the ticket is nom
inated it is the duty of every Dem
ocrat to work faithfully for its suc
cess. o
A Look from Abroad-
$he Yreka Union of a recent date has
the following in regard to Hon. II. II.
Gilfry's mission to Washington:
When Governor Grover, of Oregon
sent his private Secretary to Washington,
about three months ago. to obtain an ap
proval of the University and Indemnity
lands listed to that Slate, we feared the
young gentleman had taken a job that was
a little too heavy for him. At the same
time, we retrained from saying anything
about it, as we would not pass upon any
one without a fair trial. The radical pa
pers throughout Oregon denounced it as a
pleasure excursion at the expense of the
State, and predicted a failure. Tbey must
O feel pretty cbefip over the result, as Mr.
Gilfry telegraphed from Washington on
the 20th nit., that the General Land Ofiiee
had approved all the lists except those of
the Le Grande district, and they would be
approved in a few days. This work had on
several former occasions been entrusted
to Members of Congress from Oregon and
tbey always made a boteh of it. lint Mr.
Gilfry has made a success of the affair,
because he went there with a definite
purpose and remained steadily at work
wutil that purpose was accomplished. He
leseTves the thanks of alt the settlers on
the public lands in Oregon, for his dilli
geaee in representing, their interests at
be National Capitol.
- Oca Rkkesextativk. A private letter
from Washington speaks as follows of our
Representative in Congress. The writer
U aft old Representative df Congress him
self, and U $ competent person to jndgde
ftt the merits of jnan. lie says :
&li!sr J- uiskinj a jenlendid Democratic
;ecojd. here., and i$ re-tard.'il on all sides
63 the ablest Repretfijtatjy Oregon has
e.ver had here, of the i-Jeu.ocrau, He is
largely o,ver te- a.esayu 0 member Df
the House, and thers is no mew member
who hi3.a stauding equal to Stales 1 say
this volutarily, in.d Lbave been hery prt
ty often since lisCO. He is a profound
thinker and has great talsuSs, united, with
strong bard common sense.
The Radical Convention,
The Radical Convention which
met at Portland last Wednesday
to go through the farce of nomin
ating a ticket to be defeated, has
done its work and adjourned. We
learn that the same kind of "har
mony" existed in the State Con
vention as that which has charac
terized all the County Conventions.
The thing was all "cut and dried"
before the Convention was called
to order. J. G. Wil son has again
been placed on the ticket to be
offered upas a sacrifice to the Rad
ical cause. lie came nearer croino
to Congress at the last election
than he ever will again. Jas. F.
Gazley, of Douglas, D. W. Hare,
of Washington, and A. 13. Meaham,
the lately decapitated Indian Su
perintendent, were placed in nom
ination for electors. 15. F. Dowell,
of Jackson, Geo. P. Holman, of
Marion, Hiram Smith, of Linn,
Mayor Thos. Charman of this city,
J. I. Booth, of Wasco, and Mr.
Peterson, of Multnomah, were elect
ed delegates to Grant's Convention
at Philadelphia. Geo. II. Durham,
of Portland, was nominated for
Prosecuting Attorney of this Dis
trict. F. A. Chenoweth. of 1
i
ton, was nominated for Prosecuting
Attorney of the Second Judicial
District. X. B. Humphrey, of Al
bany, was nominated for Prosecut
ing Attorney of the Third District,
F. C. Hyde, of Grant, Avas nomin
ated for Prosecuting Attorney of
the Fifth District. We have not
heard of the nomination for the
First District,
We hear that there is a lively time at
Salem.All the indictments against May
have been dismissed, but there is a strong
belief that the grand jury, now in sessioif.
will indict leading members of the Salem
King lor swindling and tor sundry viola
lions of law. Many ot their tran.-aclions.
ii is said, will not bear in vtsi-igation. Sa
lem is greatly excited orer the situation.
The above paragraph is from the
Orcgonian of the 18th inst. Xo
man of sense has any "strong be
lief" that the Grand Jury will in
dict leading members of the "Sa
lem Ping," or that there are any
grounds for such a belief. One in
dictment against Sam May has
been dismissed, while four have
been returned to the Grand Jury.
If the Orcgonian has any knowl
edge of there being "swindling
done," why does it not make the
charge so that it may be investiga
ted, but, guriilla like, it has not
the maliness to make 'a direct and
open accusation, but insinuates in
a manner to make its blind and
deceived followers believe that
there is or has been some terrible
wrong done by the "Salem King."
It has not even the manliness to
d es i g n a tc t h e pa r t i c u 1 a r rn e m b e r s o f
that "Ping." SucfTattacks as the
above are cowardly and unworthy
of a free and independant paper.
If the "Salem Ping" are guilty,
as that sjicet intimates, let them be
brought to justice. We defy the
Orcgonian and all of its ilk to sub
stantiate its accusation against the
present State Administration for
that is what it means by "Salem
Ping." It is a cowardly and ma
lignant assault, made for political
effect, unworthy the dignity of a
man.
While our Ivadical friends trou
ble themselves so much about the
increase of salary for certain State
officers, we never hear them give
credit to the last Legislature for
reducing the fees of county officers.
We apprehend that the fees saved
by the reduction will amount to
fully the stun of the increase, and
we are of opinion that the saving
will pay the salary of all the State
officers and have a balance on hand.
Did this matter" of balancing ac
counts ever enter into the minds of
our just and honorable opponents?
We never heard of their makin"
mention of it.
Washington Lkttkks. We publish to
day two interesting Washington letters.
They will fully compensate for the lack of
editorial matter which is crowded out to
make room for them. We have now
caught up with the blockaded letters, and
hereafter we may look for one regular
weekly communication. These letters are
full of interest, and we ask our readers to
give them a careful perusal.
The Coukieu. We have receiv
ed the first number of the JLafay
ctle Courier, J. II. Upton, proprie
tor. It is a neat little sheet, and
tilled with good reading matter.
We wish Mr. Upton success.
Will the Oregon ian and Mullet in
give any more chapters on " tem
perance and politics" since the
adoption of the 1 Judical platform?
We apprehend not.
Newspaper Change. We understand
that Capt.. Crandall. who for the past five
years na niteu the chair of city editor on
the Oregnnian staff, is soon to thake charge
of the Salem Stafesmun.
The Idaho Hinnn! i, ihp nnm r
)' iii-iii i it II P W
Pr just stated at Lewiston by Leland.t
Platform of the Radical Party.
We have only space this week to
publish the platform adopted by
the Radicals at Portland last
Wednesday. We
in our nextr issue.
shall notice it
The resolutions
are as follows:
The Union Republican party of Ore
gon, in Convention, makes this declara
tion of its principles and politics .
1. To the Constitution of the United
States and all its Amendments pledge our
unfaltering allegiance; to its authority a
willing obedience; to its lull and legal
coris;ructiou and enforcement our con."
stant support.
2. That the success of the present "Na
tional Administration in reducing the
public debt, diminishing and equalizing
taxation, administering every branch of
public affairs with economy and efficien
cy, forming and improving the civil ser
vice, enforcing the laws without fear or fa
vor, protecting the nation's wards wiib
paternal care against the cruel avarice
ot speculation and fiaud, and muntaining
friendly relations with Foreign Powers
has been such as to command the appro
bation of the great majority of the Amer
ican people, and justly entitle it to the
confidence and eommendatiou of every
truo Republican.
3. We regard the payment of our na
tional debt, in lull compliance with all
legal obligations to our creditors every
where, and in accordance with the true
letter ami spirit of its contracting, as no
longer a questoa in issue; but that we
may be clearly understood, we deuouace
all "forms and degrees of repudiation ol
tiatucbt.as affirmed by the Democratic
party aud its sympathizers, as not ouly
national calamities, but positive crimes,
and we will never couseui to a suspicion
of" lack ol honor or justice in its complete
satisfaction.
4. We 'admit no distinction? between
citizens, whether of native or foreign
birth; and therefore we lavorthe grant
ing of full amnesty to the people of those
States lately in rebellion; and we here
pledge the lull and effective protection of
our evil laws to all persons voluntarily
coming to or residing in our land-
5. We favor the encouragement of
railroads by the General tJovernment of
the United States, and hold that such dis
position should be made of the public
lands as shall secure the same to aeual
settler only, in quantities not exceeding
lt;0 acres.
0. That while we are in favor of a
revenue for the support ot the General
Government, by duties upon imports,
sound policy requires such adjustment of
those duties or imports as to encourage
the development ot the industrial inten s's
of the whole country ; and we recommend
thai policy of national exchange which
secure to the working men liberal wages,
'o agriculture remunerative prices, to
mechanics and manufacturers an adequate
reward lor their skill, labor and enter
piise, and to the Nation commercial pro
priety and independence.
7. We believe that popular education
is the sole true basis and hope of a free
government and shall ever oppose any
diversion of. or inteifetrence with the
common school fund or lands in this
Stale, for any other than, their legitimate
purpose, and we condemn the act of fa
voritism by the last legislature whereby
i wo hundred thousand dollars, taken
from the school fund, were granted to a
corporation consisting mainly of Demo
cratic leaders, and party favorites, for the
construction of a work which another
corporation, entirely sound and responsi
ble, offered to construct for seventh-live
thousand dollars less; and that we ue in
f tvor o! the passage by the Legislature
of an efficient school law. such as shall
secure to all citizens of our State a good
common school education.
8. We find no terms sufficiently strong
to express our disapproval ot those acts
of the last Legislature whereby the swamp
lands belonging to this State have been
taken from the needy sett Sets and given
without limit or prpe.r competition in
price to the land-grabber a:id speculator;
whereby the emoluments and salaries ot
State officers have be-u unconstitutionally
increased, and the taxes inci eased thou
sands of dollars by the creation of new
and unnecessary offices and salaries, tor
party favorites; and whereby the citizens
of our metropolis have been deprived of
and denied the right- of controlling their
police authority. And we equally con
demn the administration of our State of
ficers and laws so extravagant, reckless,
illegal and destructive, and we rightly
charge all these results as the acts of the
Democratic party.
'.). We are in favor of the United States
giving to each honorably discharged sol
dier who served in the armies of the Uni
ted States to put down the rebellion a
warrant for a homestead of 160 acres ol
the ptib'ic lands.
10. That we demand the repeal of the
so called litgant act. which- was devised
t support pauper Democratic newspapers
at the public expense.
11. Thai" the Republican par'y of .his
Slute are in favor of the General Govern
ment extending aid toward building a
railroad fr tu Portland. Oregon to Salt
Lake City, and from Jackson county to
Humboldt, and we hereby pledge our
party representatives to the support of the
same.
12. That the indiscriminate licensing of
persons to sell spirituous liquor, without
being placed under proper responsibili
ties for the sbuse thereof, having been
found by experience to promote the
growth of crime and pauperism, and
thereby seriously inctease the rate of tax
ation, the Republican party recognizes
the right and duty of the law making
power to prevent and limit the evils and
abuses of such sale, so far as concerns the
public good and is consistent with indi
vidual liberty, by refusing to license oili
er than law-abiding and responsible per
sons, who can furnish sufficient sureties
for good character. .
13. The Republican party of Oregon 's in
favor of obta uing assistance from th ; Gen
oral Government for the construction of a
wagon road from the city of Portland to the
Dalles, recognizing this as a most import
ant and nece-sary improvement for the State
14 We affirm that the continuance in
power of the Republican party is the rttil v
sure preservation of national peace and
prosperity, and for reasons thtrefor we point
to its brilliant record in the late cird war; to
a complete nationality; to a umted sister
hood of thirty -seven States, to our Terri'o
lies rapidly warming into State lift ; to a
nation lrei.'d from the taint of slavery; to an
elevated and enlarged citizrnship; to our
national stauding at home and abroad; to
the work of vigofus reform in ail discover
ed abuses of authority or trust; to an un
equalled fiTeiso credit; to a successful and
solid financial system, and to the unparallel
ed peace and prosperity everywhere in our
bn ad domain, aud these are our pledges for
the future.
Delegates. We are under obligation?
to Mr. B. S. Clark for a list of the delegates
to the Marion County Convention from
P.uttevillo precinct, which are as follows :
F. X. Matbieu. John Shire and Alfred
Billings.
The Commissioner of the General Land
Office has decided adversely to the claim
of the Bishop ot Xesqnaily to a valuable
tract of land near the city of Walla Walla
and knerwn as the St. Rose Missioa.claim.
The cold weather during the winter is
said to have killed all or nearly all the
bees in Walla Walla valley. In most in
stances the hives were suffered to stand
out ol doors.
Hon. II. G. Struve is now editor of the
Vancouver Register.
Cur Special Washington Lette?-
Washington-. March 2. 1S72.
Editor Enterprise : The debates in
the Senate on political questions are now
pretty well over and from this time for
ward, public business will be transacted
unless something important should spring
np. for there is no knowing what may
transpire amidst the corruptions of the
present administration. Every day is
bringing some defalcation to light.orsome
extraordinary misdemeanor of tne 'Ting -surrounding
Gen. Grant.
During the recent debate in the Senate.
Gov. Morton of Indiana, employed the fol
lowing extraordinary language :
"The Cincinnati movement is a move
ment against the Republican party, not
simply against General Grant. The men
who are carrying on that movement have
not said that they will support anybody
nominated by the Philadelphia Conven
tion. They have pnt that convention at
Cincinnati upon a basis antagonistic to
the acknowledged principles and policy
of the Republican party. I think a Con
gressional movement of this kind for the
purpose of affecting a nomination for Pres
ident or a Presidential election, known to
all the world as having that object and no
other, is not sanctioned by the spirit of
our institutions."
In the earlier years of the Republic
such an assumption would have shocked
Uie country as much as the arguments in
favor of the -'Alien and Sedition Laws'
did. and would have aroused the indigna
tion of the country, but the present parly
in power have gone from one assumption
of imperial power to another, and until
the sensibilities of the people have become
blnnted, till such men as Senator Morton
have come to believe that all power is in
herent in the Republican party, and that
it is treason to oppose them or endeavor
to defeat Grant. But. that gentleman,
and those who think with him. will find
before the next Presidential election that
the spirit of American freemen is not
broken .and that they are not yet prepared
to surrender all their liberties at the be
best of the dominant party. These senti
ments, thus avowed for the first time in
this free country are attracting great at
tension, and are receiving severe criticism
from almost the entire press of the nation,
as they properly should.
There exists here much painful anxiety
in regard to the management of the Uni
ted States' Treasury. The glaring dis
crepancies between the reports of Secre
tary Boutwell ad tne Register of the
Treasury, creates an uneasiness in the
public mind, and clearly shows how easy
it is to rob the people of millions of dol
lars through the operations of the Treas
ury. Secretary Boutwell, in his report of
our indt btednecs in lcOD. stated it as be
ing $2.(;oG.i;03.L,oo.' T1ie Register stated
it for the same year at $2.-18.002.08!).
showing a discrepancy of $Ki7,G01,47o.
In 1S70. Mr. Boutwell's report stated the
debt at $2.480.i72,427. Register's state
ment, $2 'JSG.joS. j'J'J discrepancy $1)1.
313. S2S. The public will very naturally
inquire what reliance can be placed on
official figures which so palpably confront
each other with falsification. The point
that creates uneasiness and distrust with
the people, is the ease with which public
funds amounting to millions maybe ab
sti acted and used by officials disposed to
be corrupt. The truth is the officers of
the Treasury are mostly small men. From
rather a tamiliur knowledge of nearly all
the offi-jcrs of the Treasury, I do not find
a man above mediocre, and nine-tenths of
them below it. The Treasury has no of
ficial or personal ability, such as should
hold the positions, when such inomec tons
interests are at stake. Nor have the pres
ent occupant? of place in the Treasury,
exhibited in their past history any extra
ordinary ability or official integrity. This
is felt by all who have business in that
department. In no ot:e department is
there s much need ot reform, and the
peoplernust arouse themselves, and rid
the country of the party in power, if they
desire the public funds to be apglied to
the purposes for which they were collect
ed, and slop the constant defalcations and
robberies, continually occurring.
The political excitement in this section
continues to grow and all men. and even
women, art; in Ihe field. From the high
est to the lowest a keen interest is felt in
the approaching election. The nomina
tion made of candidates for the Presiden
cy and Vice Presidency by the Labor
Reform movement has enlisted the working-man.
and all classes of laborers begin
to feel that they have something at stake
in the result of this Presidential election.
That party is organizing thoroughly and
intends to poll their full slrenght. The
favorable notices of the press given the
candidates selected at Columbus. Ohio,
has given the Labor Reformers much sat
isfaction and encouragement. The opin
ion prevails with the party that Judge
Davis and Gov. Parker, will be endorsed
both by the Liberal Republicans and the
Den;o:r . t, when their convention meets
I am of the opinion that the Liberal Re
publicans will do so, but that the Demo
crats will do so is very questionable.
Yesterday. I received information from
very respectable authority that Thomas
A. Hendricks of Indiana, would be the
Democratic candidate and that the con
vention would be held in St. Louis in July
next. Thomas A. Hendricks is a states
man of decided ability, and true patriot
ism, ami his nomination would receive the
cordial support of the entire party, yet I
know enough of his honest devotion to
democratic principles and the par'y, to
believe that he will submit whatever am
bition he has to become President to the
good of the country and the party, and
whoever the democrats may select, will
receive from him a cordial support.
The truth is that if the Democratic par
ty desire success, they must have no di
visions either in state or national conven
tions. This is a time in the exigencies of
the party, that all true democrats should
fling away ambition and resolve by union
and harmony to win. Personal aims and
personal promotions should be discarded,
if in conflict with the success of Ihe party.
To the democrats of Oregon the country
looks for noble sacrifices and glorious re
sults. The democracy here ate delighted
to perceive from the Oregon Press that
clubs are being formed in all pruts of Ihe
State, and that yon ail are alive to the is
sues at stake and mean to k your duty
manfully. This is light and proper, and
victory always crowns the energetic and
brave effort. 1o resolve to achieve vic
tory is half the battle.
All legislation in which your State has
an interest is prog essing as- favorable as
circumstances will permit, but tnere is no
question of favorable action upon most all
of them. Your Representative is faithful
and vigilant, and ii always in bis seat,
and never misses a vote. Aside from his
known fidelity to all duties that have been
imposed on him, be feels a just pride in
accomplishing something of substantial
advantage to his State. He has a com
mendable ambition to serve his country
and Oregon, and is gratified hen he can
accomplish any good for his people Or
egon never had a more faiihfMl member
and I doubt if she ever had an abler one.
I trust his labors will be crowned with
success.
The Japanese Embassy arrived in Wash
ington yesterday in a snow storm, and
were welcomed by Gov. Cooke. For the
next ten days they will absorb the public
attention, and create a temporary sensa
tion. It is quite a large party .but as they
were at San Francisco and Oregon people
know much of the "heathen,' 1 shall not
dwell on them.- I hope the letters written
the last mouth may reach 3'ou more regu
larly than the first series sent you. and
that those which follow will be of interest
to your readers.
Pi-buccs.
"Washington. Feb. 2G, 1872.
Enrroii Enterprise : I am gratified that
there is now a good prospect ahead for
regularity in a correspondence from this
place, and well pleased to find that what
I have written is so correctly printed in
your paper, however, un Able the charac
ter of the productions.
Within the last two weeks the Senate
Chamber Las been the great attraction. I
doubt, if in the palmy days of Clay. Web
sier and Calhoun. ther was much greater
interest takeu in the debates of the Sen
ate, as now. Day after day. the galleries
are crowded, aud persons arriving after
10 o'clock, a. in., fail to get in at all, and
on the occasion lastweek when Carl
Scburz replied to Senators Conkling and
Morton, in the discussion, of the sale of
arms to France, not only were the galler
ies ovei flowing, but the floor of the Senate
was occupied by the ladies and members
of the House. I do not remember in all
of my experience iu Washington, to have
known admission to the Senate Chamber
to be conceded to the ladies by resolu
tions before this occasion. Heretofore the
floor of the Senate had been held as sacred,
and I do not desire it to be understood
that because ladies were admitted during
its session, that there was any saciilige
I regarded it as rather an improvement on
the usages of that body, to be adorned by
graceful presence of beautiful women.
This effort of Senator Schuiz was wonder
ful and the audience wits entranced by
the charmed utterances of the eloquent
man who has so magically translated him
self from foreign habits and a foreign
tongue into a complete mastery of the
English langauge. With singular clear
ness and deterity he selected and put for
ward such facts as best embarrassed the
enemy and sustained the charge and drove
home his conclusions with irresistable
force. The delicate irony and pointed
sarcasm with which he garnished his effort
defy description. The listener actually
felt sorry for Conkling. Morton and the
other Sena'oiial imbeciles who labored
under the strange infatuation that they
could try conclusions with such a man.
It was positive cruelty to animals. Conk
ling seemed to shrink into his rfdic'iilous
selfinmanya way to give pain to the
spectators, and when poor Morton lifted
his harsh voice iu reply, and began mov
ing his arms, the very sympathizers with
the motive of Senator Schuiz sustained
really longed for Morton to say something,
to lilt him" from his humiliating position.
And tney longed in vain. The crowd
hurried away from such an unequal con
test and well they did. Morton's effort
sounded
Like a tale told by an idiot,
Full of sound and lury.
Signifying nothing.''
The triumph of Schurz .vas complete, and
his adveisaries were crushed. The result
of that debate was that Senator Schurz
formally withdrew from the Administra
tion ring- of the Republican party, ml
avowed his determination to unite bis for-
tune with the Liberal Republican move
ment, which holds ils Convention on the
5;h of May at Cincimati.
When I wrote you last, the Liberal
movement, was demonstrated the - third
i i
party ' movemeni. .ow, we nave tne
"fourth' party, called the Labor Reform,
which met last week at Columbus. Ohio.
and nominated Judge I) avis of Illinois,
now a member of the Supreme Court.
Judge Davis was an old friend of Abra
ham Lincoln, and received his appoint
ment from him. He is, also, the executor
of Mr. Lincoln s estate. His name has
been mentioned for the last two years in
connection wita the nomination for Presi
dent by the Democrats. The truth is.
Judge Davis has been nearer iu sympathy
with the Democracy since 1803, than with
the Republicans. It was he, who set aside
l-unif-ide's otdt-r, suppressing the Chicago
Times, in l6aj'3, and he was Ihe first Judge
n the Supreme Bench that set his face
against military trials of civil cases by
which Miiligan and otheis in Indiana
Were attested, but set free by Judge
Davis' independent course as a Judge.
Governor Parker, of New Jersey, is on
the ticket with Judge Davis as Vice Presi
dent. He has been a life-long Democrat
and was elected last year as Governor of
his State by a handsome majority. He
has been frequently spoken of as a suita
ble man to be run by the Democracy for
the Presidency. Many Republicans be
lieve thai this ticket of the Labor Reform
ers, will be endorsed by the Liberal Con
vention at Cincinnati, and by the Demo
crats when they meet in National Conven
tion. 1 am wholly unprepared to inlorm
you whether this will be as they say or
not. It is evident that this nomination
has given much uneasiness to Grant and
his friends, as it is believed that .Senators
Trumbull and Logan, ot Illinois, will sup
port Judge Davis.
Whilst all these things are transpiring
the Democracy are keeping their own
councils.
The faith of all true Democrats here in
the ultimate triumph of Democratic princi
ples, pure and unadulterated, is strong
and confident. They do not mean to de
part from the faith of the fathers, and give
in their adberance to any new articles of
faith, or "departure " from the convictions
of truth, for any temporary triumph. They
perceive that the people are aroused at
last to the danger surrounding our insti
tutions, and feel convinced that reflection
will show that, the only guarantee for an
h un Bt economical and patriotic conduct
of public affair.'., is to place them in the
hands of Democrats, who, lor 60 years erf
the lift, ot the nation secured the bless
ings of peace, happiness nd great pros
perity to the American people. This is
the faith of your Representative in the
House, and there is no firmer believer in
the lime-honored principles of Democracy
than James II. Slater ; "iil 1 am satisfied
that such are the opinions of Senator Kel
lj. Both of these gentlemen stand high
with the party here, which is attributable
to their known devotion to Democratic
principles, and earnest desire for the suc
cess of the party without sacrificing any
principle or acknowledgirig that the party
has been wrong in the past or unpatriotic.
They are unwilling to stullify themselves
or thi action of their party in the past, by
declaring acts which were unconstitution
al ichen enacted as constitutional now.
There is intense excitement all over the
country just now. The powerful feeling
of" opposition to Grant ia springinging up
everywhere, and g'rava doubo are enter
tained, even if Grant is nominated by the
Philadelphia Convention, that he will be
re-elected. A great revolution in public
-entiment has taken place during the past
few weeks, and is still progressing. The
more the acts of the Administration are
exposed to criticism, the worse they ap
pear If we examine the records of Presi
dential elections, it will be seen that the
most disastrous reverse which ever over
'ook a dominant partv the defeat of Mr.
Yen Buren in 1810 was like a stroke of
lightning from a clear sky in its sudden
ness. In 1S30 Van Buren had received
170 electoral votes or 121 more than all
the others. His pricipal competitor was
General Harrison, who received 73. be
sides 2G for Hugh L. White, ot' Tennessee,
11 for Daniel Webster, and 11 for W. P.
Mangurn. of North Carolina.
While Van Buren had strengthened him
self with his party during bis Presidential
term (which Grant has not done), he bad
failed to satisfy the country. Trade was
dull, business staguant. and a great com
mercial revn'isiou swept over the country.
It is undoubledly true that the President,
scheming for a renomination. paid too lit
tle heed to the requirements lor an elec
tion after his nomination should have been
secured. So successful had ihe prelimin
aries been managed, that Van Buren had
no competitoi in ihe convention, and was
nominated without a dissenting voice.
The opposition again put forward General
Harrison. In ihe campaign that ensued,
which for excitement and enthusiasm has
never been equaled, no special measures
of the Administration were attacked.
About the only charge was that the Ad
ministration policy bad resulted in ' hrd
times"' that taxes were high aud business
depressed.
The result at the polls was a complete
political revolution The States of Maine,
Rhode Island. Connecticut. New York.
Pennsylvania. North Carolina. Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Michigan, that had given
their electoral votes lor Van Buren four
years before, wheeled into the line for
Harrison, and the electoral college stood
231 for Harrison to 00 for Van Buren.
And yet, so great was lb excitement and
so thoroughly was the vote of the country
gotten out, that the defeated eaioimate
received 301,000 more on tbe popular
vote than sufficed for his election four
years previously. AnTl so entirely had
the Administration deceived itself, that np
to the hour of receiving the returns. tb
President and his Iriends had no doubt of
his triumphant re election.
Consider how nearly the parallel of
IS72 runs to that of 1810. We h ive a
President scheming, with all the piv.ver of
official patronage, for a renomination. and
with such success that his candidacy is
apparently a foregone conclusion. There
is an opposition patty, strong in numbers,
organization, and determination. We have
the same depressed condition of bu-ir.ess.
and consequent, hard times, with high
taxes. Popular discontent is loud and
persistent in its demands for reform. The
officials are relying upon the nomination
of their candidate, as equivalent to an
election, regardless of the seething volca
no of popular wrath that is ready to burst
forth. Expenditures are enormous, taxes
are unbearable, the great s.;ipping inter
est of the country has gone to destruction,
our navy is rotten and useless, while a
foreign war threatens. Added to all these
are the glaring infractions of the Constitu
tion by the bayonet laws of Congress.
And over all loons the shadow ot an op
position in the Administration party, that,
while offering no obstacle to the Presi
dent's renomination, vi 1 make itself
deadly at the polls.
Can it fail ly be assumed that this Ad
ministration is to succeed in perpetuating
itself, even wi h the ail of us army of of
ficials. and th untold amounts of money
at its command ? Do not rather the faco
of history, -as well as all reason and ex
rerience bear out the belief that with
sagacity, unity, and labor the Presidentia
election of this year may be made lo re
suit in an overwnelming and 'n reM icvatdt
disaster to General Grant aud his party ?
Oregon is locked t with much anxiety
here, and I trust that the utmost harmony
will prevail in vour coining Convention.
Let every democrat that goes to that Con
vention tling'as'tde all personal aims and
go for the best, interesis of the partv. and
do all he can for the countrv.for upon the
triumph ft the democracy depends much
of the fu'ure liberty and prosperity of the
whole people. I am aware that it is diffi
cult to keep out of a convention, a desire
to advance particular candidates, and in
this there is nothing wrong, it it is accom
fjiniedwiih a willingness to submit to
what will be considered to be tbe best for
ihe triumph of the party. In this respect
Oregon basin the past kept a good record
for patriotism, and the present, of all oth
er periods in tbe history of the party, is
indispensable now. V ictory must b ob
tained, and let every delegate wlren be
departs from the Convention for his home
determine to achieve.
I have reliable information that tbe bill
introduced into tbe House by Hon. J. H.
Slater, to extend the 'imp for the selefilion
ot fcwamp l. anils ol tne ."-tate nas ueen ap-
pioved by the Committee on Public
Lands, also that the bill to allow the
State ol Oregcn to select Agricultural
College Lands on other than lands sub
ject to private entry, and to approve lists
or selections already made, has also, been
approved by the same Committee. These
bills will pass v4tloirt opposition. The
railroad bill granting lands to aidi in the
construction of the Railro ul from Port
land to Salt Lake has been authorized to
be reported, granting the right of way K)0
feet wide upon each side of the track
with the right to use limber and material
from public land in the construction. with
grant of tracts of land of 40 acres every
ten miles for stations. In this form, the
Committee on Public Lands was unani
mously in favor ot the bill,and the friends
of the me wire consider this a fair begin
ning, and as an entering wed'c for a lib
eral grant next session, or at the fan best.
next Congress. I am Informed from- a
responsible source, that capitalist.'- are
con.-idering the importance of this road',
and it is probable that important combi
nations may oe ettecled at an early uay.
An appropriation of $30,000 for the iut
piovernents on the Lower Willamette and
Columbia Rivers has been agreed np-orr
by the Committee on Commerce also the
survey of Port Orford. with a view of
mak'tig it a Port of Refuge, is being con
sidered. Mr. Slater has introduced a bill j
creating a new land district in South- J
eastern Oregon, and will succeed in get- I
ting it reported from the Committee on I
Pubuc Land, to whom the bill was re
ferred at tie instance of Mr. Slater. All
the measures referred to above as coming
fiom the Committee on Public Lands will
doubtless come before the House for ac
tion in the next two weeks, as the Com
mittee will be called iu tbat time, and be
nassed.
I still adhere to the belief that Con
gress" will ad-joiirrr before the first of Jime,
and then for the con'Mct. As before suggested-,
the contest will be fierce and hot,
and- no effort will be left unemployed by
thy President and his friends to insure
success, but the1 opposition to Grant i?
equally deterrtiined. . and the resr.lt &s
much involved in its consequences. The
democrats in "the States" mean to do
thelF: whole duty. Let Oregon do hers.
PCBLtCTsS.
Notes on School Matters.
VISITING schools.
In a former article, speaking of the du
ties of school directors we made special
mention of that of visiting schools in their
official capacity. We do not wish it uni
derstood that we consider it a duty con
fined tr) the directors alone, or one arising
Under statute law. We believe the duty
of visiting schools one of those which ex2
ist outside of all legal relations, and In
cumbent upon all parents who have child
ren undergoing the process of education
in our public schools. We call attention
to this, because we believe it to be gener
ally neglected. Some, if not many, par
ents, send their children to school. glad to
have them out of the way during the busy
hours of the day.taking little or no thought
for theif intellectual welfare, satisfied if
their childien do not complain, not know
ing, perhaps, vvhethtf their children are
in school, or in the food's. No records
come into the hand cf the superintendent
by which the extent to which thi.. duty i
performed, can be determined. We onl
know from the remarks of teachers, thai
very little attention is paid to their work;
by those for whom they work. Childrer!
come and go they carry "Such reports id
their homes, of progress and conduct .
they please, and the teacher has no rfieani
of correcting anj errors, or proving hi
position, until too late td remedy difficu'
lies that may arise. There are varion
reasons why this duty of visiting uchoola
should be faithfully performed.
1. It should be performed for the pur
pose of creating a derper interest on thi
part of parents in the education of their
children. Parents need the stimulus thai
contact with their children iu the pchool
rootn will give, in order to properly en
courage and direct their studies. The ne -cessity
of providing for the temporal wants
of a family, often imposes so great a bur
den that "parents sometimes feel that they
have no tima to care for the minds of
their children. It is true, the body should
be clothed and fed. but in view of conse
quences, it is of va-tly greater importance
that the mind should be cared for. Most
will acknowledge this, and the reason
why they are disposed to mae the inter
ests of the frmer primary, and of the lat
ter secondary, is not because of their the
ories in opposition to education, but br
canse of their lack of interest in it. Want
of lime to attend lo this duty is in mot
cases an eXciue to conceal indifTerenci
Men and women of any force, always find
time to attend to things in which they feel
a special interest. Tnere is something an
imating in a visit to ft well-regulated
school-room. No man, with half a son!,
can go into one. for an hour, watch th
children at their studies, their effort to
master difficulrivs, their eagerness in reci
tation, wit-iioitt feeling some enthusiasm in,
and a desire lo help along Ihe work.
There is no zeal worth considering, that
is not created and regulated by knowl
edge. If a man would have proper in
terest and zeal in tbe education of his
children, he must waich the processesr
through which tbey acquire it.
2. This doty should be performed n
one which ibey owe to their children in
common with alktru-ts committed to them.
That man woti'd be considered almost
criminally negligent who should entrust
the care of his farm or shop to an entinf
stranger, and never look to see whether
his property was being carefully guarded
and his pecuniary interests promoted or
destroyed. No man with an eye to busi-'
ness. sends his herds to a distant pasture:
under Ihe care of a servant, without occa-"
sionally looking after them to see that
they are well-fed and watered. He wish-''
es to know the amount and ihe kind of
care they receive. No man, who really
and earnestly desires his child to be fitted
lor an active and useful life will send it
away from his bouse to receive an edu
cation without watching its progress. IIf
ought to do this for his own honor, which'
is promoted through Ihe well-being of lh
child. He ought lo do ibis for the high-r
est well being of the state, which is pro
moted by the careful aud proper educa
tion of every child. He ought to do this
for the well being of,the child, who needs
his constant and intelligent supervision.
lest it be educated into errors that .hall
dwarf its powers for lite. Our public
schools are open for the inspection of all
interested parlies. They expect and in
vite criticism of methods, that the be.t
may be secured. The man whose child
ren are in them, and w ho never goes near
them. is guiltier of far greater regfect tfrnn
be. who permits careless servants to
squander his estate without one word of
protest.
3. This duty should be performed as
one owing to th. teacher. A good teach
er will take pleasure in welcoming tint
parents of children to his school room. -A
poor teacher needs their presence as a
stimulus and a safeguard.- The visit, of
paren's will tend to create confidence b
tween them and their teachers, and this
confidence will remove the occasion of
many difficulties. Tbe grievances under
which children suffer . and ol which tbey
so often matie complaint to their parsntH.
to the detriment of a chsol. are often ex
aggerated, or ihe result of mere fancy.
Let parents be acquainted with tbe meth
ods of a teacher and have confidence in
him and they will not at once awl with
out investigation take np arms in their de
fence. The teacher is presumed to be ac
quainted with his business, and to be in
the right, until there is good evidence to
the contrary. Tbe presence of parents as
visitors will have a healthful influence, up
on Ihe school. The teacher will feel iht
there are those besides tbe children who
are interested in his work, and he will be
more careful and painstaking in his meth
ods ot instruction. A deeper interest will'
be awakened, as he witnesses the interest
of others in his work. It is not too much
to say that teachers sometimes becomo
careless, their work in ihe school-roonr
becomes task work, when they discover
that tlose for whom they labor apparent
ly care nothing for their success or failure
Do you wish to encourage teachers Go
and visit them at their worlc and h;p
them in every way you can.
4. mis duty .bould be performed thnt
the children may be encouraged in their'
studies. Mo?t children will take pleasure
in ihe visits of their parents at tbeschoo!-'
room. Those who are dilitrent and fun
di Ous take pride- in having their parent
Witnesses of the fact. If there are any w bo-
are n t such, their parents most certainly
should be witnesses of the fact, tbat the
dame f jr their lack of progress may not
rest altogether upon the teacher. Betide?,
i. . L : i , -1 : .
sina. oiiiuren win sometimes put forth
greate? efforts under the rye of a-parent.
More than this, the presen-cc of parent m
a school room will exercise some degree
of restraint upon the conduct of children,
at least, if ihey are under proper restraint
at home. It is well for parents to visit
the school-room and ask their children
questions. Questions asked otr??ide of the
routine of lessons, quicken ttie thoughts of
a child, and tbe answers elicited will
make a deeper impression upon the mind.
To most minds the tusk or acquiring an ed
ucation is a burdensome ne; aad in tho
earlier stages of the process there is need
of all the encouragement and help- that
can be derived from outside influences. In
a perfect stare of society, paresis should
be the teachers. Themnltiplicity of cares
renders it necessary to delegate this labor
toothers, nevertheless they should beat
hand to help, and encourage in the good
work. When this is generally done, wo
shall have better teachers, and' witness
greater progress among the pupils.
E. GenitT.